Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1887-09-23
THE MEMORIAL HALL.
DRDIcAroRYExERcIsEs ArRIcHMoHD
COLLEGE LAST NIGHT.
Memory Of James Thomas, Jr., Honored-
Addresses by Rev. DR.. Broadus
and Several Others.

/
Last night was q grand occasion al
Richmond College, when the Thomas
Memorial Hall was formally opened
and dedicated. This beautiful hall,
set apart by the trustees in memory o.
their old president, liberal benefactor,
and wise counsellor, James Thomas,
Jr., has been so fully described in the
Dispdtch that it need not be further
referred TO now. Suffice it to say that
the verdict of the large audience
present but confirmed the opinion OF
| judges who have before pronounced il
one Of the most beautiful halls to be
found anywhere.
Before the appointed hour the spa
cious hall was filed with such On au
dience as only Richmond can turn out
| for such an event as this.
DISTINGUISHED PEOPLE.
Il, There were on the platform Capable
of seating $50 persons) the trustees,
the faculty, Governor Lee, representa-
tives Of other colleges, members OF the
alumni, and distinguished guests.
AS DR.. Curry came on the platform
he was loudly applauded, and when
Governor Lee was recognized he was
greeted with enthusiastic applause, and
the occupants Of the platform rose to
receive and applaud him.
Just over the platform hunga superb
! life-sized portrait of James Thomas,
Jr., by De SAINTS, of Italy, who paints
all of the royal likenesses, and which
was presented to the college by Mrs.
Thomas.
| OPENING EXERCISES.
Rev. DR.. Ryland called the vast au-
dience to order and announced that
Rev. DR.. w. f. Hatcher, chairman OF
the Memorial Committee, would pre-
side ON the occasion.
Rev. DIR. J. J.. Burrows, of Norfolk,
was called on and, while the audience
rose and remained in reverent silence,
led in feryent and appropriate prayer,
in which he thanked God for the
precious memories and successes of the
past and invoked His richest blessing
on the trustees, faculty, students, and
friends of Richmond College.
WELCOME.
Dr. Hatcher then introduced Profes
sor II. II. Harris, chairman of the fa.
Guilty, who made brief and eloquent
address Of welcome. He cordially
greeted the students Of this session, a:
they had come from Massachusetts, tc
California; the representatives of Other
colleges who were here to testify to the
cordial fraternity existing between the
colleges of the State, the wisdom and
position on the platform, and the intel
ligencc, beauty, and manhood before
him. He deicately and gracefully
greeted the family of Mr.. Thom's and
spoke of their liberal benefaction in en-
dowing the lectureship which is tC
bring here the ablest lecturers in thi,
and other countries.
TIE HALL PRESENTED.
Rev. DIR. W. L. Hatcher, as chair
man Of the committee, then presented
the hall to the trustees in speech
which was III his happiest vein.
After a statement OF the origin OF thii
beautiful hall AID its design as me
moral of James Thomas, Jr., he in fl
words presented the hall, free of debt
to the trustees. He delicately suggest
ed that the committee presented thil
hall in its beautiful emptiness and ex
pected the friends of the college t.
fill it.
THE MEMORIAL.
He spoke tenderly Of the aprropri
ateness of having this upper room a
a memorial OF james Thomas, Jr., the
one below as memorial of j. B. Jeter
and tie hall below as a hall of science
He gave the trustees a gentle hint thai
it now remains for them to fit up the
lower floor and dedicate it TO the use,
of science. In eloquent and fitting
phrase lie turned over the keys of th'
hall to the president of the Board ol
Trustees, Hon. ii. X. Ellyson.
THE KEYS ACCEPTED.
Mr.. Ellyson made an every way ad
mirable response, in which he said thai
the trustees gratefully acknowledged
the efficiency Of the committee and the
liberality of friends all over the LAND
by which this splendid building
has been erected and this beau
tiful hall fitted up. Richmond Col
lege owed more 10 the benefac
tions of James Thomas, Jr., than t.
any other man, not only because he was
the largest giver, but because he gave
at times when the very existence Of the
college depended upon it.
He accepted the suggestion OF the
committee that the work Of the trustees
begins where theirs left of, and pledged
The trustees to use their best endeavori
to convert this "beautiful emptiness
into hall crowded with works Of ar
and beauty. He also expressed the
warm thanks of the trustees to the
family for their judicious iberality in
contributing $4,000 to found "lec
4 ,ure endowment" He gracefully ac
cepted the beautiful gift and pledged
the trustees TO seek to make it usefu
10 the college and the community.
Dr. Hatcher then appropriately in.
troduced as the orator of the evening
Rev. DR.. John A. Broadus, OF the
Southern Baptist Theological Semi
nary.
| DIR. Broadus's address.
DR.. Broadus said that to build
museum in connection with @
public library. and as part of an
institution for higher education, is but
a return TO the original elevated appli-
cation of that term. A museum among
the Greeks was primarily any haunt OF
the MUSES. next, place for the study
of objects dear TO the MUSES., such MS
srt, poetry, history, and eloquence.
Plato and Aristotle erected each build
ing called museum, containing rooms
for the study of philosophy, and
then first in the history of culture
public library, open to students and
visitors. This was initiated on a much
largerscale by the great at Alex
andria, collecting q library that became
one OF the wonders of the world, and
furnishing to the students lecture.
rooms, grand porticoes, and beautiful
outdoor walks, suited to the favorite
Greek method of peripatetic instruc-
ton, together with common hall or
mess-room, in which the professors and
students might dine together, and thus
4 - l.... l. al. IaF